FIDE-International Chess Federation announced the format changes for the Women’s Candidates Tournament. Based on the changes the general world championship cycle format instead of the double round robin, would will on a series of knockout matches.
The Women’s Candidates Tournament is a part of the women’s world championship cycle. Eight of the world’s top female players, qualifying by ranking or top international events throughout the last two years, will compete for the chance to become the challenger against Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun in the summer of 2023.
The eight players competing in the challenge of reigning Women’s World Champion GM JU Wenjun are:
- – GM Aleksandra Goryachkina who was the runner-up of the 2020 FIDE World Championship
- – GM Humpy Koneru among the top-two finisher in the 2021 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix
- – GM Kateryna Lagno the top-two finisher in the 2021 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix
- – GM Alexandra Kosteniuk who was among the top-three finisher in the 2021 FIDE World Cup
- – GM Tan Zhongyi a top-three finisher in the 2021 FIDE World Cup
- – GM Anna Muzyxhuk among the top-three finisher in the 2021 FIDE World Cup
- – GM Lei Tingjie winner of the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss Tournament
- – GM Mariya Muzychuk the highest-rated player on the FIDE January 2022 rating list
Schedule
Stage 1 includes the quarterfinals and semifinals, which will be held in October-November. In this each match will include four games, plus possible tiebreaks.
The participating players have been divided into two pools with the quarterfinal pairings having been decided. The final to be played during first quarter of 2023, will take place between the winner of each pool and will consist of six games, plus possible tiebreaks.
Pool A
- Koneru vs. A. Muzychuk
- Lei vs. M. Muzychuk
Pool B
- Goryachkina vs. Kosteniuk
- Lagno vs. Tan
